Letter: Payment for crimes should be consistent

3:00 AM, Dec 29, 2012

Roy N. Pullam, Henderson

Recently I heard the news that HSBC, one of the largest banks, was fined more than $1 billion for laundering money for drug cartels and violating the sanctions and laundering Iranian assets. The next day I saw where Morgan Stanley was fined for giving out information about Facebook to favored customers.

That same day two foremen on the BP platform that caused one of the biggest spills of oil in the history of the world and caused the deaths of 11 roughnecks working in the Gulf were charged with manslaughter and a former executive was charged with obstruction. In a settlement with the Justice Department, BP agreed to plead guilty and pay $4 billion. The reason that the fines were imposed I was told is that the companies are too big to try. No one else from BP or Trans-Oceanic has been charged.

It seems that the individuals punished are the stockholders. Such manipulation has made the brokers wealthy from commissions, but it has reduced the value of stock and hurt the American economy.

In addition, anyone who is watching sees two levels of justice: Poor man and rich man. If some poor man walks into HSBC with a gun and gets a thousand dollars, he will get 20 years and do every day.

While he is serving his hard time in Atlanta or Leavenworth, the corporate chiefs drink their wine and eat their caviar.

I am sure the people in Houston were putting pressure on the platform crew. I am sure the people at the top of Morgan Stanley and HSBC knew the corrupt practices of their firm.

Many older people look at the bottom line of their 401Ks and wonder where is the justice? Individuals unemployed at Christmas and without a paycheck faced their children with broken hearts.

Justice must be uniform. There should be no one too important to face a jury and pay for their crimes.

A.J. Vogel, Henderson

Laws will not protect our students

Nothing will ever be done about gun control, except talk. No action that can be or may be taken can stop the deranged or insane people who are hell bent on destruction.

Every act of violence breaks laws already on the books, passed to prevent said violence. Drive-by shootings and the like such as that plague Chicago are all drug related.

If (and this is a big if) every gun in America could be confiscated at midnight tonight, within 48 hours anyone who wanted a gun (and this would mean mostly people we do not want to have a gun) would have one.

Can we expect a country that cannot stop illegal immigrants from streaming across our borders or stop the flow of illegal drugs from entering the country to be able to stop the illegal gun runners? Of course not.

Personally I believe arming teachers and beefed up armed security, along with unbreakable, bulletproof glass in all school doors and windows and bars on all glass so if the glass is somehow breached, a person could not squeeze in, along with an electric locking mechanism placed where no one could reach it through the bars and broken glass to activate, are the only ways to protect schools. No amount of laws can.

Most laws (if any are passed) will be ignored by a shooter. If shooters knew there were armed people in the school, they may — just may — think twice although I doubt it, as deranged minds don't think rationally.

If I were a teacher, starting the next school day, I would be carrying a gun — concealed carry permit or not.

Ruth Wallen, Henderson

Driver causing damage should accept blame

This letter is directed to the person who crashed into our mail box/Gleaner box Christmas night, demolishing them and also taking out a good portion of the shrubs planted beside them, then didn't have the decency to stop and tell us nor leave a note admitting who you are. As much damage as you did to our property, you surely did a good bit to your vehicle.

I just want you to know you damaged property belonging to senior citizens. My husband is not physically able to reset the boxes, so that is an expense, as well as replacing the boxes, that we have to supply.

Sorry your parents didn't teach you how to accept responsibility for your actions. It would have made you a better person.